Blackfoot Mountains

The Blackfoot Mountains, also called the Blackfoot Range, is a small range of mountains located east of Blackfoot, Idaho. Most of the area is private property, including the range's tallest mountain, Taylor Mountain. There is more than one mountain in Idaho named Taylor Mountain. This one was named for Sam Taylor, an early settler and brother of Matt Taylor.^[1]

Nevertheless, a part of Wolverine Canyon, which runs through these mountains, does have a few sites available for hiking, camping and other recreational pursuits.

Ecology

This area is mainly a hilly shrub-steppe, covered in sagebrush and juniper. However, there are many springs and small streams which form microclimates with more water-loving plants.

The mountains themselves are mainly basalt.

Wind turbine controversy

There is already a 65 megawatt, 43-turbine wind farm on the range, built (and later sold off) by Ridgeline Energy, LLC. That company received a Special Use Permit from the Bingham County Planning and Zoning Commission on April 24, 2008^[2] to build 150 more turbines on the Goshen South wind farm. It is predicted that these turbines will supply up to 450 megawatts of electricity.

There is some opposition to the project because of the fear it will interfere with the area's natural beauty. The turbines are planned to be built on property owned by local rancher Kelly Bingham,^[3] who claims that the new turbines will not be visible by people enjoying Wolverine Canyon's recreational aspects. Nevertheless an appeal was filed against the April 24 decision by a group of local landowners, including former state legislator Stan Hawkins and local business man, Frank L. VanderSloot. Mr. VanderSloot said of the proposal, "It's an atrocious idea. There is a place for windmills, and (wind energy) is a very good idea, but it's in very much the wrong place."^[4] The appeal noted a number of problems with the project:^[5]

• Power production should not be allowed in an area set aside for agricultural use.
• The application for the conditional-use permit didn't contain a site plan drawing.
• The planning commission limited the amount of time individuals could testify at public meetings.
• The turbines could be placed on another, less valuable site.
• Construction of the machines would drive off wildlife and destroy big-game habitat.
• Erection of the turbines would cause a huge loss to a historical site.

References